Eastern Stories and Legends — The wise Physician

THE WISE PHYSICIAN

Kisāgotamī is the name of a young girl, whose marriage with the only son of a wealthy man was brought about in true fairy-tale fashion.

She had one child, but when the beautiful boy could run alone, it died.

The young girl in her love for it carried the dead child clasped to her bosom, and went from house to house of her pitying friends asking them to give her medicine for it.

But a Buddhist mendicant, thinking, “She does not understand,” said to her: “My good girl, I myself have no such medicine as you ask for, but I think I know of one who has.

” “Oh, tell me who that is!

” said Kisāgotamī.

“The Buddha can give you medicine: go to him,” was the answer.

She went to Gautama, and doing homage to him, said: “Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that will be good for my child?

” “Yes, I know of some,” said the Teacher.

Now it was the custom for patients or their friends to provide the herbs which the doctors required, so she asked what herbs he would want.

“I want some mustard-seed,” he said; and when the poor girl eagerly promised to bring some of so common a drug, he added: “You must get it from some house where no son, or husband, or parent, or slave has died.

” “Very good,” she said, and went to ask for it, still carrying her dead child with her.

The people said: “Here is mustard-seed, take it.

” But when she asked, “In my friend’s house has any son died, or a husband, or a parent, or slave?

” they answered: “Lady!

what is this that thou sayest; the living are few, but the dead are many.

” Then she went to other houses, but one said: “I have lost a son”; another, “We have lost our parents”; another, “I have lost my slave.

” At last, not being able to find a single house where no one had died, her mind began to clear, and, summoning up resolution, she left the dead body of her child in a forest, and returning to the Buddha paid him homage.

He said to her: “Have you the mustard-seed?

” “My Lord,” she replied, “I have not; the people tell me that the living are few, but the dead are many.

” Then he talked to her on that essential part of his system—the impermanency of all things, till her doubts were cleared away, and, accepting her lot, she became a disciple and entered the first Path.

The following lines, ascribed to some of her Sisters in the Order and given in the _Psalms_ (translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids), would apply to Kisāgotamī:— “Lo!

from my heart the hidden shaft is gone, The shaft that nestled there hath he removed;

And that consuming grief for my dear child, Which poisoned all the life of me, is dead.

To-day my heart is healed, my yearning stayed, Perfected the deliverance wrought in me.

” NOTES FOR TEACHERS

The following notes are intended for teachers who may wish to use this collection as a class text book.

In all these stories we have the idea of the Indian God in various re-incarnations until he has attained full Buddhahood.

Beyond occasionally mentioning the fact of Re-birth in introducing the story (so as to preserve the Oriental flavor) I do not insist on this, nor do I introduce the name of the Buddha into the actual table of contents at the beginning of the book, as it might seem abstruse to the younger readers.

But because I wish to appeal to scholars in the higher sense as well as to boys and girls, I have tried in many instances to preserve the language as given in the translation from the Pali.

I have also tried to avoid cutting out any important episodes; this sometimes happens in the popular adaptation of these deeply ethical stories.

I have tried to keep as far as possible the Eastern point of view, since the book is sponsored by one of the foremost of Oriental Scholars, Dr. Rhys Davids, who has helped me with his advice, and taught me the spirit of the whole conception.

THE HARE THAT RAN AWAY

This is the only story I have completely re-adapted for quite small children, and I have found it among the most popular.

I often tell it in connection with Hans C. Andersen’s story of the “Scandal in the Poultry Yard,” of which the subject is practically the same: the first being simple and direct, the second veiled in gentle satire.

THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE

I include this story because of the lighter side and because we cannot hide from our boys and girls that craft does enter into the question of success as the world understands it.

It is, however, in my mind where the Buddha is not at his highest level.

Perhaps the less this story is explained the better.

THE SPIRIT THAT LIVED IN A TREE

This story I consider to be one of the most beautiful in the collection.

We cannot baldly appeal to the children to think “of the next generation,” but this wonderful picture must fire their imagination where the ordinary didactic appeal might fail.

THE HARE THAT WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE

In this story it may be necessary to make a few words of comment on the point of view of the Buddha which might not be quite intelligible to the child.

The fact, that though he was ready to sacrifice his own body he had a care for the tiny insects which might perish with him, has much significance in the story scheme.

It shows not only the letter of the law but the spirit of the love which prompted him to act, and represents one of the principal tenets of the Buddhist Faith.

The whole story is somewhat remote from modern life, but I have found it of great interest to children of different ages, most especially at the time when Fast Days were called for.

THE PARROT THAT FED HIS PARENTS

The dramatic interest of this story appeals to all ages.

I have found quite young children enthralled by the adventures of the parrot.

I take exception to the lack of poetic justice in the kinsfolk sharing the parrot’s reward—but it was necessary to the Buddha’s happiness, and if children should raise the question, I should explain it on that ground.

THE MAN WHO WORKED TO GIVE ALMS

The method of alms-giving may not appeal to modern feeling, but the spirit in which the gifts were made rises to wonderful heights, and the deeds are sanctified by the self-sacrifice which brings them about.

In telling this story to groups of boys and girls accustomed to the warnings of charity organizations, the different conditions in the East might be mentioned.

We have here the same idea as in the story of the King who gave his eyes.

This story seems to lead up to the other, in which the sacrifice is so much greater.

THE KING WHO SAW THE TRUTH

This story may seem at first to be above the plane of the young child.

I

have eliminated all the physical suffering, because it is not necessary to bring out the real meaning of the story.

Older children (whether in years or understanding) will be able to appreciate the beauty of the sacrifice and the exceeding greatness of the reward.

THE BULL THAT DEMANDED FAIR TREATMENT

The fact that the Buddha insists on a fair wage, not from selfish greed but for the sake of his employer, lifts the story from the realm of the commonplace which the subject might suggest.

THE BULL THAT PROVED HIS GRATITUDE

An excellent illustration for children of the necessity of kindness to animals, not only from the merciful point of view, but from the practical question of ensuring good work.

THE HORSE THAT HELD OUT TO THE END

The children will be much impressed by the courage of the horse, and the power of will he shows in accomplishing the task he has set himself.

It is the spirit of the soldier at its best and might be cited as displayed during the Great War by individuals from all nations.

THE MONKEY THAT SAVED THE HERD

This is one of the most practical stories in the collection, showing that for success in leadership it is necessary to have a quiet mind, a great deal of knowledge, and a firm belief in success.

This is the way ogres are outwitted.

The frank laying down of his cards, his open declaration of his plans to the enemy, present the Bodisat at his best.

There is an unconscious note of humor in this tale, in presenting a monkey as possessed of such complete self-control as to be able to bring about so great a miracle, but if any explanation is offered in the telling of these tales, it should be that, whatever the outward form, the Buddha preserves the attribute of a god.

THE MALLARD THAT ASKED FOR TOO MUCH

Origin of the “Goose that laid the Golden Eggs”; Pali word for golden goose is Hansa, whence Gans, goose.

THE MERCHANT WHO OVERCAME ALL OBSTACLES

For encouraging a spirit of enterprise, and courage under difficulties, this is an admirable story.

I think both boys and girls will apply it (unconsciously) in their everyday undertakings, but this will depend largely on the manner in which it is told: it must appeal to the imagination through the dramatic presentation.

THE ELEPHANT THAT WAS HONORED IN OLD AGE

A splendid example of the honor we ought to show to those old people in the community who have done really good work.

This story might be taken in connection with stories from history illustrating the same point.

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND

A story which will encourage children’s interest in animals and their characteristics, and will increase their interest in observing the ways of those animals under their care.

THE HAWK AND THE OSPREY

This story should be told as dramatically as possible, because it is full of action and will hold the children quite breathless.

The little touch of the lion objecting at first to be roused at an unreasonable hour is delightfully human, and the fact that when he realizes the necessity he is ready to help, is worthy of his high position among the animals.

GRANDMOTHER’S GOLDEN DISH

This story is specially useful because since _rogues_ are so often successful in the ordinary sense, and we are bound to admit this ordinary success, it is well that a graphic description of the triumph of honesty should be presented to children which will at once appeal to their sense of fairness.

THE ELEPHANT THAT SPARED LIFE

This may seem a little too lofty for the children, but I think it well to include a few stories where the standard may seem too high and the action quixotic.

In later years they will realize the philosophy of the story, but the dramatic interest will appeal at once.

HOW THE ANTELOPE WAS CAUGHT

This is an admirable treatise on the relative value of things which children are quick to see.

It should be told with increasing dramatic force up to the final run of the foolish antelope who has sacrificed his liberty to his greed.

THE BANYAN DEER

This is one of the most beautiful of all the Jataka stories.

I have given the whole as translated from the Buddhist Birth Stories, only leaving out parts of the description.

Any curtailed edition of the action of this story, leaving out the tenderness of the Bodisat for the deer that is “with young,” robs the story of its most beautiful meaning.

THE PUPIL WHO TAUGHT HIS TEACHER

This is a healthy idea and one which should commend itself to the young who are naturally averse to the idea of Death.

It is the opposite of the idea: Whom the gods love, die young.

THE MAN WHO TOLD A LIE

In this story, if it is considered injudicious to tell children of the hypocrisy of the teacher and the priest, the title of the man could be left out.

For my part, and from experience as a teacher, I have always found it wise to admit and condemn the same faults in teachers and preachers as in the laity, but to point out to the children that those same faults are the more reprehensible because of the profession which is degraded by such people as the false priest.

THE CROW THAT THOUGHT IT KNEW

This story shows the power of the skilled workman.

The one who was not skilled thought he could do more than he had the power to do, and came to grief.

THE JUDAS TREE

The point of this story is the impossibility of a just judgment without full knowledge of your subject.

Each one has only a partial knowledge and is therefore excluded from the knowledge of the whole.

THE RIVER FISH AND THE MONEY

The power of honesty restores the lost treasure.

The Bodisatta is not anxious about it, preserves his calm, and recovers it.

Observe the way in which he keeps only the money which belongs to him, refusing to withhold it from the dishonest man.

THE DREAMER IN THE WOOD

I have hesitated to include this story as beyond the range of children but I leave it for the abnormal child who may value the joy of solitude.

THE RICE MEASURE

The King falls easily into the trap that is laid for him.

His craving for greed leads him to appoint a fool and the fool leads to his failure.

THE POISONOUS TREES

Here we have the skill of knowledge.

The Bodisatta knows how to distinguish the mango tree from the What-fruit tree, and to save the life of those who had eaten therefrom.

THE WELL-TRAINED ELEPHANT

Here we have the Bodisatta ready to do the miracle that he may convince the King that he is unworthy to possess him.

The whole picture is very striking and the story lends itself to dramatic effect.

THE WISE PHYSICIAN

I am indebted to Sir Robert Morant, K. C. B.

, who has kindly been interested in the preparation of my book as a whole, for the suggestion that I should include this story (although it is not one of the series of Buddha Re-Birth Stories to which all the others belong), also for the reminder of this special version—namely, the woman’s own recognition, through her personal experience, of the impermanence of those things which seem to be lasting.

I should not suggest this story as one which would appeal to children.

I

have included it for “children of larger growth” as embodying one of the important tenets of the Buddhist Faith, and as showing how personal grief may be assuaged in gaining sympathy with the sorrow of others.

* * * * * * Transcriber's note: Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.

Typographical errors were silently corrected.

Spelling and hyphenation were made consistent when a predominant form was found in this book; otherwise it was not changed.

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